Les Bowen

STAFF WRITER

Les Bowen has covered the Eagles since 2002. Before that, he covered the Flyers for 13 years. He came to the Daily News from the Charlotte Observer in May 1983, just as the Sixers were winning the NBA championship. He thought, "Gosh, this sort of thing must happen all the time here."

Yes, there was concussion news with the Eagles Tuesday, but first we have to get to this: When Jeremy Maclin showed up on the injury list Monday with a groin problem, reporters wondered if he got hurt on the final play of Sunday's last-second victory at Tampa, when Maclin caught the game-winning touchdown pass skidding across the corner of the end zone on his knees.

Tuesday, we got a chance to ask him, and sure enough, that was when it happened. But not during the skidding, and not when Maclin jumped up and ran toward midfield in triumph. Maclin said he pulled his groin when teammates jumped on him in celebration, specifically when corner Nnamdi Asomugha climbed aboard.

Who says Asomugha isn't physical!

Maclin was expected to be limited in practice Tuesday, but he said he should play Thursday night when the Bengals visit the Linc.

Poll

What jersey are you hoping to find under the tree?

Nick Foles – Nine me, Santa!

Michael Young ­– Rudolph can do an express run when his number is set.

Josh Hamilton – Are you listening, Ruben?

"My groin is a little sore, but I'll be OK," Maclin said.

Meanwhile, concussion victims Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy were scheduled to ease back into practice Tuesday. Eagles head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said both have passed imPACT tests, but have yet to be evaluated by an independent neurologist, which is required before they play. It is technically possible but seems less than likely that Vick and McCoy will be active Thursday.

"They'll get a little bit of a runaround to get their legs back under them, let Michael throw a little bit, let LeSean run and catch and all that," Burkholder said, when asked about their practice plans.

Definitely not active Thursday will be tight end Brent Celek, who suffered a concussion Sunday, though Burkholder said Celek has passed an imPACT test and seems fine. There just isn't enough time to pass Celek through the five-step return process, Burkholder said.

Burkholder said defensive tackle Mike Patterson is resting at home after having been hospitalized with viral pneumonia. Patterson also isn't playing against the Bengals. Burkholder said the team is very alert to the possibility that Patterson's illness could spread.

"We're worried about our team, because we live like pack animals in here," he said. "So we did a lot on Saturday morning to protect us before we left. We're monitoring these guys. I've stood up in front of the team and said: 'Anybody that has any kind of symptoms, you've got to come see me.' Everybody that is a little bit sick, we get over to the doctor's office. Right now, we think we've got it contained, but we're pretty worried about it."